I’m a firm believer that God doesn’t cause bad things to happen to teach you a lesson. From my study of the bible I have resolved that bad things happen because people make bad decisions, this is a fallen world we live in, but God is there to get us through.

She writes, “Many of us believe wrongly that we’re unworthy of God’s love.” I think it’s because of mistakes we’ve made, or bad things that happen and we think God’s doing it to punish us.

Laura writes, “there is nothing we could offer to earn the blessing of salvation. Yet we were in such desperate need of redemption that God being rich in mercy, showed us His love by sending Jesus to our rescue.”

That’s the blessing. The rescue.

“We’re not only saved by grace, but the bible says we’re sustained by grace.” –Bill Hybels

You can enter to win Laura Story’s devotional, and her CD “Blessings” by filling out the form on this page. Just tell me about your “Blessing in Disguise”.

You know how when you were a kid, or maybe you do this with your kids, you have one of those reward charts.

Good behavior earns a sticker, and when a kid gets so many, they get a new toy or a treat.

Sometimes I think we misunderstand and think God works like that. Assuming that he has a straightforward reward system for good behavior. If we’re good, He blesses us. For bad behavior, he punishes us. I don’t know about you, but I don’t think that’s right.

You can enter to win the book and her CD Blessings today here on my page. Just tell me about a Blessing in Disguise in your Life.

In the book, she uses the example of Abraham. God promised he would be the “father to many nations”. He finally answered the prayer when he was a very old man, which was not the way he saw his life going down for him. I’m sure he got petty impatient. But through his children God created the nation of Israel.

We have no reason to believe that Abraham had done anything to earn God’s good favor. In fact, his behavior was far from perfect.

I loved Laura’s take on it: “As we consider the blessings God pours out on our own lives, do we see them as resources to hoard or opportunities to help someone else? When something happens in our lives, for better or for worse, she challenges you to stop and ask, “How can I use this blessing for you God?”

Kind of makes you look differently at what you’re going through today.